My organized vehicle (plus 10 things you should always keep in yours)

The weather over the past few days has been absolutely spectacular, so I finally took the opportunity to get outside and give my vehicle a good cleaning. It was about time, too, considering the interior was starting to resemble the dumpster side of a fast food restaurant.

While I was vacuuming, scrubbing, polishing and decluttering, I also organized a little better so we would – hopefully – keep things neater in the future. I started by filling a super cute bag I bought at a friend’s Thirty-One party with stuff to occupy Tiny (our nickname for our 6-year-old daughter) on trips.

I added washable markers, coloring and activity books, movies (for our vehicle’s DVD player) and Tiny’s Nintendo DS.

Also, because we live next to a lake and spend a lot of time there in warm weather, I packed a beach bag. I used a matching Thirty-One tote to hold everything.

Now all we need to do before we leave for the lake is get dressed and pack some snacks.

As I was cleaning and organizing, I made sure my center console was stocked with wet wipes, an absolute necessity for any vehicle with kids in tow.

Speaking of vehicle necessities, a recent article from MSN Autos suggests you keep the following items in your car at all times:

1. A collection of basic tools and an easy-to-follow automobile fix-it guide
2. Food (Non-perishable items like individually wrapped granola bars work great.)
3. Water (Consider at least a few one-liter bottles.)
4. Clothing (Warm and waterproof items are preferred.)
5. Flashlight
6. Jumper cables and a tow rope
7. First-aid kit
8. Spare tire, jack and a lug wrench that fits
9. Blanket
10. Lighter

I feel so much better driving around in a vehicle that is clean and organized.

On a side note, because we applied the principles we learned in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, we were able to pay off our vehicle last year and we can proudly say we are now completely debt free (except the house)! Of course, it helped that we scored a pretty great deal on this Nissan (we paid $13,000) because it had a few minor dents, dings and scratches. After we bought it, we took it to a local body shop for repairs and still saved major moolah in the end. I’m sharing all this simply to point out that this website is not about lip service. Our family truly makes an effort to “live rich on less.” To read a bit about our financial story, click here.

Have you done any car cleaning and organizing recently? Do you have any great tips to share?

I’m linking this up to We are THAT Family.